The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-12-23

certainly - vast. Tho river was frozen %
solidly that with dl63culty water was se-
csred for the littie handful Of stock and the
family. The corn and potatoes were almost
gone and could mot last with the most
frugal economy, beyond the end Of the year.
Tho westher had constant zero temper
ature, and ct night the cold was doubly in
tense. Almost daily wild northern storms
swept down through the forest and seemed
intent ON .Alllng tho open space to the level
Of the tree tops. Tho snow came from the
far Arctic regions and it. contemporaries,
the snow buntings. red polls, cross-bills,
pine finches and long spurs came as q part
Of the blizxards, flurrying like snow fakes
and driven from the polar regions for food
by the intense severity of the weather. The
little mill, wheels in the distance had long
since ceased to grind for want of water, and
the sparse inhabitants had to pound into
coarse meal what little corn they had re-
manning.
Beaux no longer came to the feet Of Mary;
some climates are too severe for even the
rosiest glamour Of heart-bursting love.
Game had ceased to approach the clearing,
warned away by the rife Of the log cab
in, and the SHOWS were too deep for the
hardy pioneer to enter the chase, even
though the family starved at home. In
the cabin Of tho Smiths only mother
and Mary were brave. Marys arc always
brave, fearless and hopeful. Show. me .
girl Of that name and will pin this state
ment on her shoulder and defy you to take 1t
off. Mary Smith felt the poverty. Of tho
family circumstances, while the men
seemed oblivious to the near starvation of
tho family. She saw it months before, and
often left her food untouched that six pOr-
tons might do for seven. When the family
almost fought for tho nearest place to the
fire, she remained in the outskirts of the
circle and gave it her part of tho warmth.
Andrew jackson might have divided his
acorns with his soldiers, but she gave all
her potatoes to her brothers. I despise
your narrow-brained, narrow-hearted so
ciety girl, who takes every thing and re-
turns nothing, who lives in the deluge Of
horses, vehicles. flowers, amusements, din
ncrs and gifts of her admirers, returning
only the barrenness Of her smiles, her ca
prices, her tyranny, her empty thanks, and,
at last, throws her wrecked system on some
poor, deluded man, whom she either drives
TO suicide or divorce. Give to me the girl
with her big heart, her big amiability, her
big reciprocal capacity and her big sympa-
thctic nature, who can not only receive
every thing, but give every thing. Icare
not whether she comes from castle or howell,
in chariot or on foot, with jewels in pro-
fusion or rags in plenty, SO that her nature
is broad. l can love her without beauty
and with breadth, but never with beauty
and selfishness. oh, Mary Smith! When
Christmas camo the potatoes had disap-
pearcd, the corn was all consumed, the last
- v~~.
to cat. The SHOWS beat down fiercely and
the North wind threatened the destruction
of the cabin, and the river was frozen solid,
and the game seemed buried in the SHOWS
of the forest, and the neighbors were starv-
ing in the distant novels.
What did she do! Did she moan like the
men, or whine in anguish at the pangs Of
hunger, or curse the wilderness for Its bar
rcnnessl MOI not she. Still reigned the
sweetness Of her eyes as she smiled, and
tears Of sympathy would come stealing
down her check when her little brother, the
baby, throw his arms about her neck and
begged piteously for bread. 1t was with
sank down to die in despair: "Fear not;
our Father who feeds the buntings on the
seeds Of the wild weeds that are made to
lift their heads above the SHOWS to furnish
them with food will this day give US bread"
It was still early in the forenoon of that
terrible day. The storm was most furious.
The fire sank low in the cabin and no one
made move to replcnish it. A report like
that OF a gun was heard seemingly in the
distance, but failed to arouse the little
group The next instant all was commotion
and terror. Tho door burst open and stag
of great size partially fell through and lay
dead on the floor. The family stood around
in amazemcnt at this remarkable event,
while the bitter cold wind swept in and
snowflales shot between the long antlers
Smiths. Mary spoke first:
''This is our Christmas dinner. boys. You
must skin the noble animal while he. Is
warm and will soon have the fire roaring
for his reception"
"But whence came the buck, child" said
the father sternly.
'That is more than we KIN ow. thought
heard shot, but if so, where is the marks
man to claim his booty!"
81 too heard shot, and If the hunter does
not appear before the animal is dressed we
must know the reason why"
In q few moments, eager hands had re-
moved the skin sufficiently to secure the
choice portions Of the meat. Meanwhile
Mary kept thinking about the shot she
seemed to have hoard. She went to the